Sorting machine



Feb. 20, 194-0. ;3 g cox SDRTING MACHINE Original Filed Apiil 5, 193'? 2 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR. flan fa 6 ['0X BY emoma ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1940. c cox 5011mm mama's Original Filed April 5. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MM W m m m A Patented Fell. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFmcs Electric Sorting Rapids, Mich.

Machine Company, Grand Original application April 5,?1937. Serial No.

135,012. Divided and this. application November 5, 1931, Serial No. 112.912

'10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electric sorting machines of the type disclosed in the patent to Hanson No. 2,054,319, of September 15, 1936, and in my pending applications Serial No.

5 711,374, filed February 15, 1934, and Serial No. 49,727, iiled November 14, 1935, and is a division oimy copending application Serial No. 135mm, filed April 5, 1937.

The invention herein disclosed and claimed re- 1 lates particularly to the provisions for more per- Iectly illuminating a viewing field wherein a' photoelectric viewing means is mounted.-

The main objects of this invention are:

1 First, to provide illuminating and photoelectric in viewing means for a sorting machine by which the energiaation or failure of enersizatlon ole photoelectric viewing means due to imperfect lighthn, eflects is entirely eliminated.

Second, to provide an improved housing for no lighting and photoelectric viewine means in a machine of the type described, wmch ls theoretically pertect in its results.

'lhlrd, to provide a lamp housinw ior illuminating; a viewing held or improved construction.

no Fourth. to provide a lamp housing of the type described in combination with a conveyor whereon articles are supported and hrouaht within the said lamp housing.

Fifth, to provide a housing in which illuminat ins meansand photoelectric vlewins meansere mounted, said housing being oi theoretically per-- test design, in combination with a conveyor" adapted to transport articles throuuh said housinc and into operative relation to said illuminatps inc and viewing means. I

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are 4,0 illustrated in the accompanylnp drawings, in

which:

Fig. i is a fragmentary view partially broken away and in vertical section, illustration a rotary conveyor associated with a lamp housing 4,15 and llluminatint, and photoelectric viewing means therein in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in front elevation of the lamp housing illustrating the illuminating lamps-and photoelectric viewing means in their lo operative relation.

Fig. 3 is a view of my improved lamp housing in transverse vertical section on line t-l'i oi Figs. 4 and 5, the position of the illuminating conveyor and objects carried thereby being indicated a in dotted lines.

Fig. '4 is a view of the lamp housing in section on line 4-4 of Figs. 3 and 5.

Fig. 5 is a view of the housing in horizontal section on line 5-5 oi Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a-modifled form of lamp housing in section corresponding to that of Fig. 3. r

Fig. 'IV is a view in horizontal section illustrating astill further modified form of lamp housing embodying the principles of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation partially in section, illustrating details oi the conveyor and its relation to the photoelectric viewing means.

An important consideration in the successful operation oi sorting devices of the type disclosed 3p in the patent to Hanson and my copending applications reierredto above is the proper illumination oi the articles at the time whenthey are supported on a conveyor in the viewing Line of the photoelectric viewing means. 'l hus, iii a to perfect article is imperfectly illuminated, shadows formed because oi the imperfect illumination are likely to cause enereization of the photoelectric cell with the resulting ejecting action. Similarly, an imperfect article discolored only in part, in= pt; correctly illuminated, may be permitted to pass into the outlet receiving perfect articles, due to the fact that the incorrect lighting thereof has not rendered the discoloration to he sumciently distinguished from the reference background on so the conveyor rim. The same result may be caused when the article is improperly positioned on the conveyor. This invention eliminates entirely failure of operation of the ejector due to the effects of imperfect lighting as noted, because of as the fact that it utilizes illuminating lamps supported in an illuminating and viewing housing of theoretically perfect construction, which acts to focus the rays of the illuminating source dlrectly on each oi the succeeding articles brought my into the viewing field oi the judging means. The rays are focused on the article from all sides thereof, with the result that there is no possibility of shadows occurring to cause the photoelectric viewing means to be energized nor 017.45 discolored articles passing the viewing means without energizing-the same, due to the failure oi the illumination to cause the discoloration to be discerned by the viewing means.

Further details of improvements characterizing 59 the invention will appear in the specification.

Referring to Fig. 1, the reference numeral ill indicates generally a conveyor drum of the rotary type rotatable in counterclockwise direction, the said drum being characterized by provisions ilouter periphery to provide a reference backtion, the articles being held to the periphery of the drum by suction through radial perforations 42 formed in the wall of the conveyor drum.

The rim 43 of drum 4! is suitably tinted on its ground of the proper color, as described in my copending application, Serial No. 49,727, filed November 14, 1935, and' likewise carries a pair of normalizing spaces enabling the amplifying circuit of the machine to be given a setting appropriate to the effective lighting, as described in that application. The numberof such blank spaces may be varied as desired.

I will now describe my improved structure for illuminating and viewing objects at the illuminating and'viewing station which is indicated by the reference numeral 8|.

, The lamp housing, generally indicated] by the reference numeral 89, is preferably mounted on a support I provided with an article receiving opening 2, the housing being on the side of the conveyor drum 4! opposite the hopper (not shown) although this position may, of course, be altered at will. The housing overlaps the drum on either side, having upper and lower recesses 30 I99 receiving the drum. The housing is formed internally in the shape of a pair of intersecting ellipsoids with the imaginary plane of intersection passing through one of the foci of each of the ellipsoids. In other words, the ellipsoids have one common focus and are so positioned relative to the path of travel of an article on the conveyor rim 43 that the article passes through the theoretical common focus which is indicated'by the reference numeral in Figs. 3 and 4. Illuminating lamps 9| are placed in socket-like holders 92 formed in the double ellipsoidal housing 89 so that the theoretical point of radiation of each of the lamps lies on a focus indicated by the reference numeral 93 ofeach of the ellipses. The result is that the light rays, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, converge on the article 94 on the conveyor rim from all directions, the rays being indicated by broken linesin Figs. 3 and 4.

The slight bulge or enlargement 95 formed at one side in the housing, as shown in-Fig.4, is provided to allow more room for ejected articles to pass to a point of discharge after they are ejected from the conveyorby means to be described and to prevent their accidental glancing or. rebounding into the collector or chute I2.

' A pair of lenses 96 are mounted in openings 91 in the housing on the line of intersection of the ellipsoids and on either side of the common focus,

as illustrated in Fig. 4, the mounting being'made by a, sleeve 98 threadedly engaging in the opening in the lamp housing and carrying a lens support 99 which is adjustable by thetknurled disk I09 whereby the focusing of the lenses isaccomplished (see Figs. 1 and 8). Aligned with each lens is a photoelectric tube llll, or other cells Illl are likewise suitably connected to the amplifying circuit" -A modified form of lamp housing is illustrated in Fig. 6, which embodiment relies for its eflectiveness on the principle of directing parallel means rather than convergingrays of light on the article at the viewing station with the efiect of illuminating the same'through overlapping areas of lightrather than through an infinite number of converging points of light. I have found thatv this principle of lighting is very eifective in the elimination of false effects due to shadows etc. In carrying the idea into practice, I employ a large number of mirrors or other planar reflecting surfaces 89l suitably secured to the housing 89 in a manner not to interrupt the reflecting area of each surface. Channels 892 separate the mirrors and. are deep enough to eliminate any reflecting tendency of the housing itself. The rays of light emanating from the lamps 9| and the limits of the beams reflected from the mirrors 8! are indicated in broken lines in Fig. 6, and it will be seen that an article at the viewing station 6| is completely bathed in uniform light. The article being viewed. in

Fig. 6 is illustrated as being in an up-nded position to clarify the effect of the individual mirror system of illumination, The article is illuminated throughout substantially its entire area. There is no point which" is relatively intensively lighted and the resulting tendency to mask the effect of a discolored portion of the article is not possible, as might be the case were the light rays focused by use of a perfect ellipsoidal reflecting surface.

In Fig. 7, I illustrate a lamp housing 899 suitable for illuminating articles on the conveyor, the said housing being internally in the form of a single ellipsoid or approximately so, articles on the conveyor rim 43 being transported through,

one focus thereof while lamp 9| is set at the other focus thereof, and the lens mountings 99 are placed in the side walls, the major axis of the ellipsoid extending at right angles to the conveyor periphery as distinguished from the previously described housing having double ellipsoidal surfaces wherein the major axes are obliquely disposed to the conveyor periphery. The housing illustrated in Fig. 7 is a simplified adaptation of the principle of my invention. However, I find it provides very satisfactory illumination of articles for the purpose of my invention.

The ejector blade or tappet I91 operates centrally of the aperture H18, extending transversely of the rim of the conveyor 43. The blade is preferably formed of aluminum so as to be quite light and readily actuated by an iron armature or core I98 connected to the rear end thereof. The armature slides in an electromagnet, generally indicated by numeral l9, which'is energized-by lead 9 as determined by impulses originating in the photoelectricviewing means, suit ably amplified, and suitably controlled by means described in my copending application, Serial No. 135,012. The magnet is carried by a bracket II I its inward ejecting stroke rapidly and smoothly and at the same time without imposing a serious starting load on the ejector, a retractor mechanism is employed consisting of a pin lllhaving a free sliding fit in a diametral hole drilled through armature I08, the pin having coil springs H4 at the ends thereof attached to anchor screws H5 which threadedly and adjustably engage the bracket III. A resilient bumper H6 is carried by the rear end of the bracket to absorb the impact of the armature on its return stroke.

' By the above construction, it will be seen that since the springs ill are substantially aligned with the pin H3 in normal position, they impose no resistance to starting movement of the armature and will act as a bufier at the end of the inward or ejecting stroke of the ejector blade. They will also return the armature at the same speed at which it was initially projected. A further important feature of the ejecting structure just described lies in the fact that the pin centralizes the reaction of the springs Ill by virtue of the loose fit of the pin in the armature. Ac-

cordingly, there will be no'binding action if the anchor screws H5 should be screwed in the bracket at 'difierent distances.

From the foregoing, the operation of the machine as well as the refinements made possible in the operation should be clear. Articles to be sorted are picked up from the hopper by substantial suction effective through openings l2 and are carried on the rim to viewing station 6| where they are completely and uniformly illuminated so that shadows will not produce an improper energization of the photoelectric tube, or, on the other hand, fail to energize the tube when a cull is present. Of course, the photoelectric cell views the article in comparison with the reference background provided by the rim 43. Periodical normalizing action to make an appropriate adjustment or setting according to the effective brightness ofthe illuminations is provided by the blank spaces 80 on the conveyor rim whereby the machine is rendered invulnerable to variations in illumination caused by variations in lamps 9|, outside influences, etc., in accordance with the description in my copending application, Serial No. 49,727.

I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention, but further adaptations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and I desire to claim the same specifically as well as broadly aspointed out in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a conveyor for moving a series of articles in spaced relation, and illuminating and viewing means disposed adjacent said 3 that the articles are uniformly bathed with light while being viewedr series of articles in spaced relation, and illuminating means disposed adjacent said conveyor, said means comprising a housing having an opening through which said articles are transported by said conveyor, the internal surface of said housing being in the form of a pair of intersecting ellipsoids having a common focus, said housing and conveyor being so associated that the articles on the conveyor pass through said common focus, and illuminating means at the other foci of said, ellipsoids, the arrangement being such that the articles are uniformly bathed with light at the common focus.

3. In combination, a rotary conveyor adapted to pick up articles at one point and transport the articles in circumferentially spaced relation past a viewing point, a housing adjacent said conveyor, said housing being internally in the shape of a pair of intersecting ellipsoids having a common focus at the viewing point, illuminating means at the other foci of said ellipsoids, and viewing means disposed in said housing to view articles at said common focus.

4. In combination with a conveyor adapted to the viewing point. i

5. An illuminating housing for a sorting machine provided with an internal surface substantially in the form of a pair of intersecting ellipsoids having a common focus, viewing means disposed in said housing to view articles transported through said common focus, and illuminating means in said housing disposed substantially at the other foci of said surface, said surface being in the form of a plurality of planar reflecting elements separated from one another by non-reflecting areas whereby parallel beams of light are reflected from said illuminating means towards the viewing point.

6. An illuminating housing for a sorting machine provided with an internal surface substantially in the form of a pair of intersecting ellipsoids having a common focus, viewing means disposed. in said housing to view articles at said common focus, and illuminating means in said housing disposed substantially at the other foci of said surface, said surface being in the form of a plurality of planar reflecting elements. I

7. An illuminating housing for a sorting machine provided with an internal surface substantially in the form of a pair of intersecting ellipsoids having a common focus, viewing means disposed in said housing to view articles at said common focus, and illuminating means in said housing disposed substantially at the other foci of said surface.

.8. An illuminating housing for a sorting machine provided with an internal substantially elliptical surface, photosensitive viewing means connected to said housing and communicating with the-interior thereof to view articles at a focus of said housing, and illuminating means in said housing disposed substantially at the other focus of said surfacasaid surface being in the form of a plurality of reflecting elements having Substantially planar reflecting surfaces whereby beams of light of substantial width are reflected from said illuminating means towards the viewing point.

9. An illuminating housing for a sorting machine provided with an. internal substantially elliptical surface, and illuminating means in said housing disposed substantially at a focus of said surface, said surface being in thevform of a plurality of substantially planar reflecting elements separated from one anotherby areas ineffective to reflect light from "said illuminating means whereby beams of light of substantial width are reflected from said illuminating means towards a viewing point at the other focus, said housing -10. In an automatic sorting machine having means for transporting articles, an illuminating housing disposed in the path of travel of the articles for illuminating the same during the sorting operatiomsaid housing having an opening receiving said articles in their travel and being provided with an internal substantially elliptical surface positioned in relation to said transporting means for passage of the articles through a focus thereof, photo-sensitive viewing means connected to said housing and communicating with the interior thereof to view articles at said focus, and means disposed in said housing to illuminate said articles from another focus of said surface.

DAVID C. COX. 

